Objective/Purpose

Dates: May 8 - 17, 2008

For the second year in a row, the McColl School of Business based in Charlotte, NC will bring a group of Professional MBA students and Alumni to Santiago, Chile for an unforgettable leadership experience. The program is based on the 3C´s approach to leadership at McColl: Competency, Character and Commitment to Community which gels nicely with Vertical´s own perspective on Leadership development. Participants spend two days working with Un Techo Para Chile to build 2 starter houses for underprivileged families. Un Techo Para Chile www.untechoparachile.cl , is an organization similar to Habitat for Humanity that are commited to helping Chile achieve its Millenium Development Goals by the eradication of all camps in Chile by 2010.

During the course of the program, participants have the opportunity to interact with many important figures in both the Chilean business and political world, gaining insight into how Chile has remained the leading economy in Latin America over the past two decades and how it has made important strides in overcoming poverty. In particular, the group will hear from Dr Rodrigo Jordan, President and Founder of Vertical, but also the Chairman of the Chilean National Foundation to Overcome Poverty, www.fundaciónpobreza.cl. The organization has contributed significantly through its program, Servicio Pais, a national organization similar to the Peace Corps that places young professionals in underserved communities to help promote development.

The program culminates with two exception days in the great Andes Mountain Range that separates Chile from her neighbour, Argentina. Participants will take place in an exciting high ropes activity followed by a day of learning the ins and outs of rock climbing.